After taking a 24-14 point lead....
Pats go 4 plays, punt into end zone.
IMHO, this is where the game was lost. This is where a heavy dose of Seahawks running game breaks the will of the Patriots.
This drive where the foot was let of the Patriots throat. 2:10 of clock used. Seahawks counter with 4 plays and a punt, Kearse with a big drop on 3 & 2. Play call or execution or both? A catch puts ball near the 20 yd line, 1st down, clock running, likely getting at least 3 out of this & going to easily take an extra 2 minutes of time off the clock. This possession, with a conversion on 3rd down also would have carried into the 4th quarter. Did the Seahawks "get away from who they are" on this drive with 3rd and 2? Sure a catch of a well thrown makes this question moot, but I believe this isn't much different than 2 and goal from the 1. This drive demonstrates where Bevell is weak as much as the final drive, maybe more. You have a defense that needs to get a stop, which is where teams have assignment breakdowns, over pursue etc. How many games have you seen the zone read really take off in the second half, usually under these circumstances (Giants game comes to mind as does the first TD against GB in the NFCC game). As one of the posters previously said about the pass to Kearse, it would have been a great 2nd and 2 play call.
Pats go 3 & out
Seahawks go 3 & out. Wilson sacked on 3rd down & 7 by Nikovitch. 1:55 clock used
Pats go 9 plays and score, Drive starts with Irvin sack, convert 3 & 14 and 3 & 8 on drive. 4:10
Drive starts with 7:55 on the clock. Time to "dance with who brought you". Seahawks go 3 and out, throw two incompletions, use total of :55 seconds of time. Lockette trip on 1st down. I have a coaching buddy who is in the WA state hall of fame, multiple state titles etc. He always empasized the need to get the clock started on every possession in the 4th quarter when you have a lead. Sure a penalty should have been called, or Lockette could have made a tough catch while laying on the ground. But what got the Seahawks to this game? Possession goes Inc-run for 5-Inc
Pats go 11 plays and score. 4:46 for the drive.
Hawks final drive.......no need to discuss
Just my ramblings. Like most of us here, can't quite get this gut bomb digested!
Pats go 4 plays, punt into end zone.
IMHO, this is where the game was lost. This is where a heavy dose of Seahawks running game breaks the will of the Patriots.
This drive where the foot was let of the Patriots throat. 2:10 of clock used. Seahawks counter with 4 plays and a punt, Kearse with a big drop on 3 & 2. Play call or execution or both? A catch puts ball near the 20 yd line, 1st down, clock running, likely getting at least 3 out of this & going to easily take an extra 2 minutes of time off the clock. This possession, with a conversion on 3rd down also would have carried into the 4th quarter. Did the Seahawks "get away from who they are" on this drive with 3rd and 2? Sure a catch of a well thrown makes this question moot, but I believe this isn't much different than 2 and goal from the 1. This drive demonstrates where Bevell is weak as much as the final drive, maybe more. You have a defense that needs to get a stop, which is where teams have assignment breakdowns, over pursue etc. How many games have you seen the zone read really take off in the second half, usually under these circumstances (Giants game comes to mind as does the first TD against GB in the NFCC game). As one of the posters previously said about the pass to Kearse, it would have been a great 2nd and 2 play call.
Pats go 3 & out
Seahawks go 3 & out. Wilson sacked on 3rd down & 7 by Nikovitch. 1:55 clock used
Pats go 9 plays and score, Drive starts with Irvin sack, convert 3 & 14 and 3 & 8 on drive. 4:10
Drive starts with 7:55 on the clock. Time to "dance with who brought you". Seahawks go 3 and out, throw two incompletions, use total of :55 seconds of time. Lockette trip on 1st down. I have a coaching buddy who is in the WA state hall of fame, multiple state titles etc. He always empasized the need to get the clock started on every possession in the 4th quarter when you have a lead. Sure a penalty should have been called, or Lockette could have made a tough catch while laying on the ground. But what got the Seahawks to this game? Possession goes Inc-run for 5-Inc
Pats go 11 plays and score. 4:46 for the drive.
Hawks final drive.......no need to discuss
Just my ramblings. Like most of us here, can't quite get this gut bomb digested!